Bjorn Thoroddsen—from Iceland to the WAG

Bjorn Thoroddsen, one of Iceland’s foremost jazz guitarists, will headline the Winnipeg Art Gallery’s July 28 Jazz on the Rooftop concert. He will be joined by Richard Gillis, Gilles Fournier, and Will Bonness. Doors open at 6pm, with the concert starting at 7:30. Tickets are $21 for WAG members and $25 for non-members, and allow free Gallery admission the day of the concert. There is also a cash bar and an optional barbeque by Storm Restaurant for $20. Tickets are available in person at the WAG or through their website at wag.ca.

Bjorn Thoroddsen has won several Icelandic music awards, including "Jazz Performer of the Year" in 2003. On completing his training in Iceland, he continued his studies in Los Angeles where he graduated from the Guitar Institute of Technology. Originally a rock musician, his attention was soon turned towards jazz, where it has remained to this day. He performs both as a solo artist and as a member in several bands, including Cold Front with Canada's Richard Gillis and America's Steve Kirby, and the popular Icelandic band Guitar Islancio, which had the honor of being the first Icelandic jazz group to have a gold certificate album.

Richard Gillis is head of the brass department at the University of Manitoba Faculty of Music, as well as co-founder and Artistic Director of the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra. Richard also performs with Metalmorphosis (brass quintet), the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, his own trio, and with Bjorn Thoroddsen (with whom he has performed internationally and recorded 6 CDs).

Gilles Fournier’s versatility on 4, 5, and 6 string electric and acoustic basses positions him as one of the most in-demand musicians in Winnipeg. He has performed with jazz greats Arturo Sandoval and Phil Nimmons, and hometown talents Marilyn Lerner, Jennifer Hanson, Greg Lowe, and Walle Larsson.

A highly sought-after pianist on the Winnipeg jazz scene, Will Bonness possesses an impressive mastery of the piano and a growing fan base.